ain't no party like a murdergame afterparty, cw: some mentions of alcohol

[originallutece]

[--cuz a murdergame afterparty is horrifying and sad and possibly a little threatening if Mahiro insists on bringing his gun with him, please don't do that buddy.

Honestly, guys, we're running out of cooks at this rate. But it's nice to gather after horrifying events, and so while Rosalind's cooking skills are absolutely terrible, her alcohol-pouring skills are a little better. Come have a glass of wine or three and ruminate on the fact that there's only fourteen of us left.]

Comments

[originallutece]

[She doesn't say anything for a long while. She's not all that hungry, frankly, but nor does she want to brood alone.]

It's been a long five weeks, hasn't it.

[aumygoddess]

[ Just. Setting her cooking utensils down and resting her elbows on the counter, posture suddenly sagging. She is so tired. ]

It feels like it has been much longer.

[originallutece]

It has.

[She sighs softly.]

It isn't simply the death, but the slow countdown. I'd almost prefer it happen all at once.

[aumygoddess]

[ She's quiet for a few moments, and then: ]

...there is seemingly nothing we can do to stop it, either. Feeling this helpless is maddening.

[originallutece]

Agreed.

[She exhales harshly.]

And I think you've the right thought. If you can't fix things, you can at least keep busy, and be helpful in some fashion. Though it hardly helps in a case like this.

. . . sometimes I think it might be worth learning to fight, if only to have something guaranteed to keep my mind occupied.

[aumygoddess]

[ a slight smile ]

...ah. Well. You can thank Kizakura for that, he gave that advice when Rika died. If I didn't know what to do with myself, I should keep myself busy.

If you're interested, why don't you try asking Majima and Nishitani? I'm sure they would be...enthusiastic.

[ she's not much of a teacher, herself ]

[originallutece]

They've taught me a few things-- Majima has, anyway.

[Rosalind knows better than to encourage Nishitani, I say, knowing what she does tomorrow evening. Ah, narrative irony.]

But given I'm not inclined towards fighting, I tend to decline the lessons. But it might be worth pushing through the distaste.

[aumygoddess]

I would think it was handy, at least.

[ being that they are in murdercastle. though hahahaha look where it got mako, yesterday.

she turns around and leans her back against the counter, better facing Rosalind ]

But ah, that's right, you don't fight...you're a scientist, right?

[originallutece]

A physicist, yes. I built most of my own machines, but that was about the most physical effort I ever cared to expend at home.

[aumygoddess]

Machines? If you don't mind my asking, what sort of machines? I thought physics had more to do with, um...math, and things like that.

[ she is a poor rural 80s child, pls assist ]

[originallutece]

It does. But it also involves measuring a great many things, most of which are too small for the human eye to see-- hence the machines. And given I constantly sought to push the boundaries of what was known, I had to learn how to build my own. One doesn't tear apart the fabric of time and space with something one can purchase from the general store.

[aumygoddess]

[ ON THE OTHER HAND, INTERDIMENSIONAL TRAVEL IS SOMETHING SHE DOES UNDERSTAND, albeit in a magical context ]

That's...very inventive. You were researching something with time and space?

[originallutece]

It became my life's work. I discovered the existence of parallel universes at eighteen; I had figured out how to open a door between worlds by twenty-two.

[Nobody likes a braggart, Rosalind.]

From there, there was an immense amount to research and discover. I still haven't covered it all.

[aumygoddess]

[ Bragging, maybe, but earned bragging. Holy shit, lady? ]

You can...make a door between worlds? Just with a machine?

[ Imagine if she and Rika had something like that, they could focus their efforts on each individual fragment more, not having to worry about her power running out. ]

...t-that's incredible. We definitely do not have that sort of technology in my home.

[originallutece]

We hadn't either, until I invented it.

[She shrugs.]

Most people were still wary of electricity. But you'd be surprised what can be accomplished if you've nerve enough to try.

[aumygoddess]

Ah, that's right, you're from...sometime in the early 1900s, yes?

[ she guessed by the clothing, but hey, the more u know ]

I'd say that makes it even more incredible, though...

[originallutece]

[She smiles, pleased by the compliment.]

1909. Truthfully, that was one of the first questions I was trying to answer: how many other worlds had discovered how to open those tears.

[aumygoddess]

Well, it isn't science, in my experience...but there aren't precisely 'doors' you travel through, either, so perhaps that is the difference.

I'm curious, though--what do these doors look like?

[ compared to the kakera void, she is imagining, like. actual doors with doorknobs and hinges. ]

[originallutece]

[She raises an eyebrow, but tugs out her notebook. As she sets pen to paper--]

In your experience?

[aumygoddess]

[ a nod ]

That is what I meant when I said I was trying to prevent Rika from dying. I would send her to a parallel universe where she was still alive.

[ she...may recall Hanyuu babbling about it during the first trial but she hasn't talked about it in depth before. Hanyuu come on. ]

[originallutece]

[She does indeed recall that.]

You'd put two of her in one universe?

[aumygoddess]

Hmm? Oh no, no, not like that. Just her spirit, not her body.

[ seeing as she was dead that wouldn't really work, um ]

[originallutece]

So she'd exist as-- what, a ghost?

[aumygoddess]

No. Her memories and consciousness would eventually merge with the version of her from the newest universe. Ah, that is why she is over a century old despite looking so young, she has many lifetimes of memories in her head.

[ looking slightly guilty about that last part. sorry rika. ]

[originallutece]

That is different.

[Fascinating, though. Rosalind finally turns over her notebook, where she's illustrated a very odd thing indeed.]

That's a doorway between the worlds. A tear. And from my experience, when you bring the same person into a universe where they already are, their brain has overwhelming difficulty dealing with it. They receive both sets of memories, can't deal with the cognitive dissonance, and typically hemorrhage.